Malachi Sunagoowie’s passion for baseball started early. “I got started in my sport when I was young playing t-ball, and then I first started playing traveling ball when I was seven for Xplosion, a team out of Tulsa,” the Hartshorne High School standout shares. “I was born in Talihina, but I’ve been a native of Hartshorne my entire life.”
Malachi credits his family as his greatest source of inspiration. “I always grew up watching baseball, and my mom and my family always had their faith in me,” he explains. “My biggest influences are my mom for being so strong, my grandmother for being such a durable person, and my dad, Chris, who spent the entirety of last summer traveling with me for baseball.”
As a leader on the team, Malachi’s role is pivotal. “I am one of the leaders, always have been no matter what grade I was in,” he says. “I pitch, play first and third, and I am the 4-hole in the batting lineup.”
Malachi embraces the underdog mentality of this year’s team. “We definitely have a lot of holes to fill with big losses from injuries and three seniors leaving,” he acknowledges. “However, I feel that we are going to be an underdog team that plays freely.”
Despite challenges, Malachi remains focused on the future. “I plan to play to the best of my abilities and to help our team make it out of regionals,” he says. One of his favorite moments came during regionals last season against Stroud. “First at-bat, I went up there and bat-flipped a double off the wall. Then before my next at-bat, I did 20 pushups and hit a bomb in the first three pitches,” he recalls.
Off the field, Malachi has big dreams. “I would like to go to college for baseball and major in biology, to hopefully one day become a dermatologist.”
When asked about advice for younger athletes, Malachi emphasizes preparation. “Start training and lifting early. High school comes fast, and you always have to be striving to prepare for it.”
As he looks back on his journey, Malachi is grateful for his support system. “I want to thank my auntie Kala, my grandma, my mother, my dad Chris, and my coaches,” he says. For this driven athlete, both the present and the future shine bright.
